Fashion Week El Paseo Kicks Off With Monique Lhuillier Runway Show

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In it's eleventh year, Fashion Week El Paseo is in full swing in the large white tent in Palm Desert, CA.

The event, held from April 2-9, 2016 featured a new fall ready-to-wear line from celebrity designer Monique Lhuillier on opening night.

Lhuillier has been known to have dressed many celebrity brides, including Reese Witherspoon, Ashley Tisdale, Kristin Cavallari, Heidi Montag, Giuliana Rancic, Alicia Silverstone, and Carrie Underwood, who wore two of Lhuillier's custom-designed gowns on her wedding day.

The new line included some of Lhuillier's traditional ball gowns fit for Cinderella, while other pieces were more Bohemian in style and ranged from jumpsuits to swimwear.

In an interview with the Desert Sun, the Los Angeles based designer said she was often inspired by her travels, as well as by art and architecture. She added that she'd love to dress Rihanna someday.

The runway tent was filled to capacity for the first event of the week, although the crowd was disappointed that the designer did not attend.

Several charitable events are scheduled in conjunction with Fashion Week El Paseo including the Le Chien canine couture runway show to benefit the Humane Society of the Desert, the FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising runway show to benefit the Junior League and Women's Leaders Forum, and the El Paseo Rocks event presented by the GirlFriend Factor.